Californians
native born are in all parts of the state demonstrating their patriotism
by leading in the race for business supremacy that natural and worthy
competition of man with man which fructifies in the general weal. James
L. Emigh of Sacramento is of this class, and as successful as any if we
consider all things which make for and modify worldly success. He was
born in Rio Vista, Solano county Cal., November 25, 1876, and attended
the public school there till he was fourteen years of age. Afterward he
was a student at the Oakland high school, and then entered Heald's
Business College from which he graduated in 1893. Prepared then to enter
upon a business career he became bookkeeper for E. I. Upham Company,
continuing in that position with the successors of the company, Bird
& Dinkelspeil, general merchants in Collinsville, and was thus
employed until 1900.

In
the year 1900 Mr. Emigh went to Suisun City, Cal., and bought the James
Kerns hardware store, which he eventually consolidated with the Suisun
Implement Company, of which he was vice-president and assistant manager
till 1910, when he sold his interests and removed to Sacramento, where
in that year he went into business with his brother under the firm name
of Emigh Hardware Company. They handled a general line of hardware and
builders' supplies, a venture in which he prospered as well as he did in
his former ones. In July, 1912, they consolidated with the Capital
Hardware Company and incorporated Emigh, Winchell, Cline Company, of
which Mr. Emigh is vice-president and manager. They are now located at
No. 308-10-12 J street, the former location of the Thomson, Diggs
Company. The business has been enlarged and they handle a full line of
agricultural implements, as well as heavy and shelf hardware. Four
floors are occupied by the firm in a building 60x160 feet in size.

Mr.
Emigh was made a Mason in Rio Vista Lodge No. 208, F. & A. M., is a
member of Solano Chapter No. 43, E. A. M., Vacaville Commandery No. 38,
K. T., and Islam Temple, N. M. S., San Francisco. He married at Rio
Vista December 1, 1897, Miss Harriette M. Church, a native daughter of
Rio Vista, and three children have come to them : James L. and Albert
T., twins, and Colby S. Wherever he has lived Mr. Emigh has taken a
really helpful interest in all that has pertained to the general welfare
of the people, with whom his lot has been cast. In a way public spirit
is indirect self-interest, but there are so many men who do not
recognize this fact that the burden on those who do is heavier than it
ought to be. Mr. Emigh is one who has never sought to escape that
burden, and usually he has not stopped to consider whether he was to be
the gainer even indirectly.

Source:
History of Sacramento County, California
Biographical Sketches of The Leading Men and Women of the County Who
Have Been Identified With Its Growth and Development from the Early Days
to the Present
History By: William L. Willis
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California (1913)